“My dog?”
“Yes. I read that article in Prominence Magazine, and I want to hear about your Blumastiff. I’ve always wanted one because they’re so cool. I wondered how one would do in an apartment.”
“Gus doesn’t bark or shed much. He does fine in my apartment, but I pay someone to walk him every day.” Cole spent the next five minutes entertaining Harper with stories of the dog’s antics, his eye on the door where Brooke had disappeared.
“I’m getting worried about Brooke,” he said, scanning the room for a sign of his bride. “She ought to be back by now.”
“Brooke’s up in her room.” Harper looked confused. “She told me she was pooped.”
He stood so fast he knocked his chair over. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you knew.” She shrank away from him. “She said to tell you not to hurry, but she was ready to go when you were.”
Why hadn’t Brooke mentioned being tired? Was she afraid to be honest with him?
He was stomping across the room when Harper caught his arm. He shook free and muttered, “What do you want?”
Harper moved to stand between him and the exit, her hands on her hips. When she spoke, it was barely above a whisper, but there was no mistaking the fury in her tone. “You obviously have a problem with your temper. And I’m warning you right now, you’d better not hurt my sister. Ever! Or you’ll answer to me!”
“I’m not that kind of man,” he grumbled, offended at the accusation. “I’ve never been anything but kind to Brooke.”
“Then why are you racing upstairs with your fists clenched?”
He forced his fingers straight, glancing around at his friends and family, who’d stopped talking to watch the exchange.
“Come talk to me in the hallway,” he hissed. “People are watching.”
She marched outside the banquet room and whirled to face him, her lips pressed together in a flat line.
“I’m not angry with Brooke,” he mumbled.
“It sure looks like you are.”
“Well, I’m not. I’m just frustrated she wasn’t honest with me. How am I supposed to take care of her if she won’t even tell me when she’s tired? What am I doing wrong?”
He didn’t flinch under her accusing stare. A long ten seconds passed, and then her furrowed brows lifted, her stance relaxing.
“It’s not your fault,” Harper said. “She always hides things like that.”
“Always? I thought maybe it was a pregnancy thing.”
“I don’t think so.” A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “She doesn’t want to bother anyone. It’s like she listens to other people’s problems all day, but she can’t admit she has any. Or at least, she won’t admit she needs any help.”
“But she talks to you?”
“I’m her sister, but she doesn’t tell me everything.” Harper sighed. “Nathan did a lot of damage.”
“I’m not Nathan.” Surely, she wouldn’t compare him to her ex. They were nothing alike. “She’ll learn to trust me.”
“Don’t push her to change or make her feel guilty about it.” Harper’s eyes narrowed again. “It’s not like you’ll be together that long, anyway.”
His mind was protesting her insight, even though she was probably right. Why did it exasperate him so much to admit he wouldn’t have time to gain her trust within the next five months? It must be his competitiveness coming out.
“Harper, would you do me a favor?”
“Maybe…”
“Go back inside and tell everyone I’m leaving here in fifteen minutes.” He looked up at the ceiling, like he could see through the thirty floors between him and Brooke. “I’m taking my wife home.”
CHAPTER 13
“Good morning!”
Brooke blinked her scratchy eyes open, as Cole’s bright smile came into focus. She tugged the sheet up to her neck, even though she’d purposefully worn a modest t-shirt and yoga pants to bed.
“I’ve got decaf coffee for you and an English muffin with some of my homemade cactus jelly.” He nodded toward the tray in his hands as he set it on the bedside table. “What else can I do for you?”
“Stop being so perky.” She closed her eyes. “That cheery face is giving me a headache.”
“I guess you’re not a morning person, huh?”
“No,” she mumbled, resenting that he was forcing her to speak before six in the morning.
“I’ve already done a workout and taken a shower,” he said. “Been up since a quarter ‘til five.”
She grunted, unable to think of a pleasant response, though quite a few scathing replies came to mind.
